Deck Stain Calculator
Calculate how many gallons or liters of deck stain you need based on your deck area and product coverage rate.
Stain Needed
Deck stain coverage varies by product type and wood condition.
Gallons Needed = Deck Area / Coverage Rate per Gallon
When using square meters and liters, the calculator converts internally. 1 gallon = 3.785 liters. 1 sq meter = 10.764 sq feet.
Typical coverage rates per gallon:
- Transparent stain: 250–400 sq ft
- Semi-transparent stain: 200–350 sq ft
- Solid stain: 150–300 sq ft
- Paint/opaque: 200–400 sq ft
Pro tips:
- New/bare wood absorbs more stain (use the lower end of coverage)
- Previously stained wood needs less product
- Rough-sawn wood uses 20–30% more than smooth
- Two coats are recommended for most transparent stains
- Always buy an extra 10% for touch-ups and waste